Abstract [en]

Family planning has long been practiced in Kenya. Despite this, however, the country has had a high yearly increase rate of inhabitants. Family planning and sexually transmitted infections (STIs) are stressed in the Millennium Development Goals by WHO, and are challenging issues worldwide. Many interventions and studies concerning reproductive and sexual health have traditionally focused on women. Therefore, there is an increasing request for a focus on men in studies of these issues. Men in Kenya have rarely been involved in either receiving or providing information on sexuality, reproductive health, birth spacing or prevention of STIs.

The aims in these studies were to describe perceptions/cognizance of family planning and STIs among low-income men in western Kenya. It is important to gain more understanding of men’s perceptions in these issues, as they are often the decision-makers in countries where poverty and gender inequities are barriers to promoting sexual health. A qualitative method was used, and was carried out by means of focus groups interviews. Sixty four men (15-54 years of age, 8 in each group) were interviewed. The data were analyzed by means of manifest content analysis. The findings were presented according to major themes and categories regarding family planning and STIs, respectively. The themes regarding family planning were: Family planning views and reasons; Methods of contraception; Children out of wedlock; Views on family planning programmes; and Policy on male contraception. The categories regarding STIs were: Consciousness of STIs; Risk of and prevention of STIs; and Marital relationship and STIs.

The studies demonstrated that men in western Kenya had poor, and sometimes misguided, knowledge of family planning and STIs. Attitudes and cultural beliefs were strongly connected to practice. The findings stress that preventive sexual and reproductive health care should provide services that meet men’s need for information and participation, aiming to increase awareness of sexual health and reduce the gap between knowing and practicing.

Abstract [en]

Background: Men have rarely been involved in either receiving or providing information on sexuality, reproductive health or birth spacing. They have also been ignored or excluded in one way or the other from participating in many family planning programmes as family planning is viewed as a womans affair.

Aim: To describe the perceptions of family planning among low-income men in Western Kenya. Methods: A qualitative study using focus group interviews and content analysis was conducted, with 64 men aged 15-54 years participating actively.

Findings: Perceptions of family planning were manifold. For example, some perceived it as meaning having the number of children one is able to provide for. Most men knew about traditional and modern methods of birth control, although their knowledge was poor and misconceived. Modern methods were thought to give side effects, discouraging family planning. Low instances of family planning were also because of the fact that culturally, children are considered wealth. A law advocating family size limitation was regarded as necessary for the future.

Conclusion: Mens perceptions of family planning are manifold. Their knowledge about contraception is poor and sometimes misconceived. Preferences regarding a childs gender are strong, thus attitudes and cultural beliefs that might hinder family planning have to be considered. A policy on male contraception and contraceptive services is seen as necessary.

Abstract [en]

Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) pose a worldwide health problem. To improve the efforts of prevention of STIs it is important to gain insight into the awareness of STIs among people in the society.

Objective: To describe the cognizance of STIs among low-income men in western Kenya.

Method: Data was collected from eight focus groups consisted of 64 men between15 and 54 years of age. The interviews were audio taped and content analysis was used for the analysis.

Findings: Three categories were derived: Consciousness of STIs, Risk of and prevention of STIs, and Marital relationship and STIs. The results indicate that men had some limited consciousness of STIs but that there were misunderstandings. The treatments the men mentioned were hospital treatment help, from traditional herbalists and self-administration. Condoms were regarded as an effective prevention method, but there were obstacles to using them as well as to talking about STIs within marriage.

Conclusion: The study stresses the need to promote cognizance of STIs, including gender aspects, and to reduce the gap between knowing and practising.